Developing capabilities

Talent needs to be identified, nurtured and given opportunities to grow. NAC recognises the importance of developing talent. The Council awarded $1.2 million worth of local and overseas scholarships and bursaries to 84 recipients. 2007 marked the end of the Shell-NAC Arts Scholarship after 16 years, and NAC is now looking for sponsors for the arts scholarships. Various performing arts groups also received short-term training grants totalling $102,770. The biennial National Piano & Violin Competition provides a national platform to cultivate young musical talent in Singapore. During 5 to 15 December 2007, the event attracted 270 entries. New initiatives included an expanded concerto list offering more choice and variety for the contestants and the renaming of the “Open” category to “Artist” category. For the first time, finalists of the Artist

Category were accompanied by the newly commissioned Singapore Festival Orchestra. The Golden Point Award 2007 is Singapore’s premier and only national creative writing competition that celebrates new writing in the four major languages. Comprising poetry and short story categories, the Award provides an opportunity for emerging writers to showcase their talent. The biennial competition was opened only to unpublished writers for the first time in 2007. A total of 769 entries were submitted by 720 Singaporeans and permanent residents. Aspiring writers in Singapore benefitted from the Mentor Access Project, whereby budding writers were mentored by more established ones for 18 months. Mentors include well-known Singapore writers, poets and playwrights like Robert Yeo, Lee Tzu Pheng, Anuar Othman, Meira Chand, Ovidia Yu, Felix Cheong, Aaron Maniam, Daren Shiau, Desmond Sim, Colin Cheong, Tan Chee Lay, Tan Tarn How, Cyril Wong, Yeng Pway Ngon and Yeow Kai Chai.